Is Russia Exchanging an Ally in Syria for Land in Syria?

Haaretz reports that Russia, the US and Saudi Arabia have apparently been discussing how to sideline Assad in an attempt to get things under control in Syria, which has, of course, gotten way out of anyone's control. If nothing else, the existence of ISIL --- which has become an existential threat to the Syrian regime --- is all the proof one needs of that. In this context, Russia's land grabs in Syria could be seen as compensation for losing a long-time ally, or assurance that losing Assad --- which has been the US and Turkey's goal in this war all along --- won't mean losing their military bases.

Of course, Justin Raimondo has his own analysis here, although it predates the Haaretz report.